Torpedo



May 10, 1932 J. H: HAMMoND, JR

TORPEDO original Filed Feb. 15, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet IN ENTOR. jo@ 7 wl ATTORNEY.

J. H. HAMMOND. JR

TORPEDO y Original Filed Feb. l5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet www www ATTORNEY.

I VEP'TOR.

m rrh m.

May 1G, 1932.

May 10, 1932. .I QH. HAMMOND, .1R l357,150

TORPEDO Original Filed Feb. 15,'1929 4 SheetsSheet 5 ff l VEN TOR.

ZZ @mi A TTORNEY.

May l0, 1932.

J. H. HAMMOND. .JR

TORPEDO original Filed Feb'. 15, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented May 10, 1932 RMS P AF i?.

TORPEDO Application filed February 15, 1929, Serial No. 340,285. Renewed September 21, 1931.

This invention relates to the control of selfpropelled moving bodies, and more particularly to a new and improved means for controlling lthe action of a torpedo.

e The invention provides a control device which becomes effective when the torpedo misses its objective and operates to redirect the torpedo' for producing a hit. If the torpedo again misses its objective the device operates a second time for further redirecting the torpedo whereby the torpedo has three chances of making a hit instead of the usual one chance.

For this purpose an antenna of copper wire 15,is trailed behind the torpedo in a position to contactl with the hull of the target ship should the torpedo pass in front thereof. The 'steel hull, contacting with the copper wire, produces an electric impulse which is utilized for 29 redirecting the torpedo toward the ship from the opposite side.-

In case the torpedo again passes in front of the'ship and the trailing wire again contacts with the hull, the torpedo is again redirected by an electric impulse above mentioned and thereafter continues to travel in a circle having a given radius.

The angle through which the torpedo must be turned under the influence of the first redirecting impulse may be predetermined from a knowledge of the speed of the ship. and the speed of the torpedo and means is provided for manuallv setting the apparatus to this angle before the torpedo is fired. The appararight or to the left according to the direction ofmovement of the target.

The setting mechanism also controls th second redirecting apparatus wherebv the torpedo is turned in a direction opposite to that caused b v the first redirecting impulse for again approaching the ship on the side from which it wasy originally fired. Since the torpedo thereafter travels in a circle there is a fourth possibility of hit should the ship be in such position that the torpedo passes in front of the bow a second time.

TheY invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and tus is also set to turn the torpedo either to thecombinations of parts,`hereinafter set fort-h and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof. in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a portion of a torpedo embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail View of a portion of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the valve operating circuits and apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4.-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line v5 5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

F Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of 75 Fig. 8-is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the stabilizing mechanism of Fig. 1; Y 80 Fig. 10 is a side elevation partly in section of the stabilizing mechanism;

Fig. l1 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11' of Fig. 10; n

Fig. 12 is a section taken on line 12--12 of 85 Fig, 10;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the secondary rotary valve of Fig. 2 in a second position;

Fig. 14 is a section of theprimary rotary.90 valve in oneposition;

Fig. 15 is a section of the valve in the other position;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of the course of the torpedo under the influence 95 of the control device; and

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic illustration o the operation of the delay action'mechanism.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

primary rotary In the following description and inthe claims parts will be identified by specific naines for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar 5 parts as the art will permit.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a Water borne body forming a carrier of explosives, having a water-tight hull 10, and arranged to be propelled by a pair of propellers 11, 11.

The propellers 11 are mounted on a'pair of concentric shafts, including an outer shaft 12, and an inner shaft 14. The shafts 12 and 14 `are directly connected to a driving means 15. The driving means 15 preferably takes 15 the form of a conventional compressed air turbine, the actuating fluid being delivered thereto through a pipe 16. A gear 17 is keyed to the outer shaft 12 for operative engagement with gears 18 and 19 to cause rota- 20 tion of shafts 20 and 22. as will hereinafter be described. y

Horizontal rudders for varying the dlrection of movement of the torpedo about its horizontal transverse axis may also be pro-f vided 1n a well-known manner, but as such 'l 31, whereby the rudders 30 can be moved relative to the torpedo to control thevdirection of movement thereof. The rudder posts 31- are shown rigidly connected by a yoke 32 (see Fig. 4) which may be shifted according to requirements by-a connecting rod 33 having one end pivotally connected thereto. The

other end of the connecting rod 33 is pivotally secured to a piston rod 34 (Fig. 2) of a piston 35 which is mounted for reciprocating 'f movement in a cylinder 36. Adjacent the ends of the cylinder 36 are provided ports 37, 38, which are controlled by a slide valve 39 operating in a Huid pressure chest 40, which is in communication with a source ofliuid pressure through pipe 41. The arrangement is such that the piston 35' is moved to the right or to the left according to the position of thevalve 39 with respect to `the ports 37, 38. The respective ports of the cylinde'.` 36 exhaust "Q by way of the open ends of the valve chest 40,

when the valve 39 has been moved to full open position in either direction.

For actuating the slide valve 39 and also for maintainingl -it in position to cause the torpedo to move upon a predetermined course, two mechanisms are employed, one operating automatically under control of 4a stabilizing device and the other operating in response to the electric impulse in the manner mechanisms include an extension 5.0 of the slide valve 39 operatively connected to the free end of a rocking arm 51, the other end of which is'securely fastened to a rock shaft 52 pivotally mounted in a fixed bracket 53. Arm 51 is provided with a slot 54 in which slides a pin carriedby a sleeve 55 which is slidably' mounted on the shaft 50." Two collars 56 and 57 are secured to this shaft and mounted on the shaft 50 between these two collars 56 and 57 and the sleeve 55 are two springs 58 and 59 of equal strength. ,l

As more clearly illustrated in Figs. 9y and q10, there is provided for actuating the rock shaft 51 a lever arm 60 terminating in a ball 61, which is straddled by the bifurcated end of a bell crank 62, movement of which causes the shaft 52 to rock in a desired direction. The bell crank 62 is pi-votally mounted on a bracket 63 which is secured to the' outer face of a rotatable cover plate 64. The cover plate 64 is mounted on a housing by means of a pin 66 which is screwed. into a bracket 67 of the housing 65.' Pivoted to the lower arm of the bell crank 62 is a link 68, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to an L lshaped member 7 0 rotatably mounted upon a vertical pin 71 of the cover plate 64. A similar member 72 is ivoted to the'cover plate at 73. For actuating member 70 a link 74 is provided pivotally connected to the inner ends of the members and 72. Slidably mounted between the feet of the bracket 63 is a reciprocating plate 75 in which is rotata bly mounted a member 76, the upper end of -which -is provided with a finger 77 which,

when the plate 75 is reciprocated, engages either the member 70 or the member 7 2. The lower end of the member 76 is provided with two fingers 78 and 79, which are located in two planes, one abofe the other. The plate 75 is provided'with a slot 80, whichsurrounds a cam 81 rotatably mounted on the pin466. "lhe upper part of the cam 81'is provlded with a beveledgear 82 adapted to mesh with' 'a second beveled gear 83 secured to the end of the shaft 22 having a bearing in the brackb et 53. The shaft 22 is provided with a gear 19, which meshes with the gear '17 secured vto the shaft 12.

Within the housing 65 ispivotally mounted a vertical gimbal ring 90, within which a horizontal gimbal ring 91 is mounted bearing rotating massiveelement 95. Secured tothe vertical gimbal ring is a circular plate 96 cut away on either side as at 97 and 98j. The out away portions are arranged in different horizontal planes such that the cut away 'portion 97 lies in the same plane as the finger 78 and the cut awayl portion 98 lie's'in the plane of the linger 79. When the torpedo is discharged, the element is set in rotation by means of a driving mechanism not shown, Whlch isvautomatlcally disconnected as the 65 tobe described. The parts common to the two element Ais brought up to the desired speed.

The gyroscopic action of the element 95 will tend to keep its axis in a fixed direction in space. Thus the plate 96 will always remain in its original position regardless of a change in direction of the torpedo. v

For controlling the valve 39 bythe above described apparatus the shaft'22 is rotated- I ciprocation to the plate 75, carrying with it the member 76. Thus, as the-torpedo continues on a straight course, the fingers 78 and 79 will move in and out of the cut out portions 97 and 98 of. the plate 96, Without affecting the position of the member 76 or the finger 77, which will reciprocate between the ends of the members 70 and 72 Without changing` their positions. If the torpedo should deviate from a straight course, say for example to the left, the casing 65 being carried by the torpedo Will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, thus carrying with it the member 76. As the fingers 78 and 79 are moved back and forth the finger 78 Will strike the plate 96 at a part Where it is not cut away, thus causinga relative rotation of the member 76 in a counter-clockwise direction, which in turn Will'rotate the finger 77 in a like direction. As this reciprocates it will strike the end of the member 72 rotating it in a counter-clockwise direction, which by means of the link 74 will rot-ate the member 70 in a like direction, thus causing the link 68 to be moved to the right, causing the bell crank 62 to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby rotating the shaft 52 in a clockwise direction by the connection therewith of the ball 61 and arm 60.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it may be readily seen that by connection of the arm 51 to the shaft 52 rotation of the shaft 52 causes movement of the arm 51, thus moving the valve 39 to the left. This will uncover the ports 37 and 38, thus allowing air to enter the left hand side of the cylinder 36 and pass from the right hand side, causing the piston 35 to be moved to the right which, by means of the piston rod 34 and the rod 33 will causeI the rudders 30 to be moved to the right, thereby restoring the torpedo to its course.

If the torpedo deviates to the right a similar action. but in the opposite direction, will take place, causing the rudders to be moved to the left. In this Way, thetorpedo is maintained upon a pre-determined straight course under the control of the gyroscopic element 95.

For actuating the slide valve 39 in response to the redirecting mechanism to be described the cover 64 has a portion of its periphery toothed as at 100, which is in mesh with a worm 101 integral with a shaft 102.

The shaft 102 is journaled in spaced bearings 104, 104 and terminates in a beveled gear 105, which is in mesh with a gear 106 mounted on a rotatableshaft 107, which is journaled in afbearing 108.l

The shaft 107 is also journaled in a bracket 110 (Fig. 2)r secured to the hull of the torpedo, the shaft 107 being provided with spaced ball thrust bearings 111-112. y

In the frame 273 is mounted a distance gear comprising a. Worm 275 for driving a g5 Worm Wheel 276 at a reduced rate of speed.

'The Worm Wheel 276` is mounted on la shaft a third Worm 281 for engaging a third Worm- 'ivheel 282.`

The Worm Wheel 282 is mounted on a shaft 283 which terminates in` a cam Wheel 284. The cam Wheel 284 includes a cam 285 for engaging an insulating bushing? 286 mounted on the free end of a contact` spring 287, the other end of which is secured to an insulating block 288. The insulating block` 288 is secured to a rotatable shaft 289 journaled in a bracket 290 and' extending through a Water-tight packing box 291 outwardly of the torpedo hull 10and terminating on the exterior of the body in an adjustable kej7 92. A second contact arm 293 'is mounted on the insulating block 288 and is connected by a-fleXible conductor j294 to the terminal lug 271. The contact .spring 287 is similarly connected by a flexible conductor 295 to a second terminal lug 296 mounted 'rn the insulated bushing 272, conductors 270 and 297 are connected to lugs 271 and 296 respectively for the purpose to be described. The arrangement is such that the key 292 may be adjusted into desired position before the torpedo is fired, and this adjustment determines the position of the insulating block 288 and thus the extent of movement of the cam Wheel 284 before the cam 285 strikes the bushing 286. The worm 275 is mounted on a distance gear drive shaft 20 to which there is keyed a' pinion A18, which is in constant mesh with the driving gear 17. Thus it will be seen'that the circuit through conductors 270 and 297 Will be closed after the torpedo has been driven a predetermined distance.

Mounted upon the bracket 110, a shaft 300 is provided which projects through a portion of the bracket 110 and has securely mounted thereon a bevel gear 301. The shaft 300 is mounted vfor rotation in bearings in the bracket 110 and has secured thereto a dog 302Which rotates with the shaft 300. A spring 303 (see i thereof in only one direction. A winding key 306 is secured to the ratchet wheel 304 and is loosely mounted on the end of the shaft 300 so as to Wind up the clock spring 303.

The shaft 107- protrudes 4through the bracket 110 andhas slidably but not rotatably mounted thereon a grooved clutch element 307. A pai-r. of bevel gears 308 'are loosely mounted on the shaft 107 in position to mesh with the bevel gear 301. The portion of the shaft between .the gears 308 is splined and there is slidably mounted thereon the clutch mechanism 307 so as to rotate therewith. The ends of the clutch member 307 are toothed to form ratchet members 309 and 310. The contiguous faces of the bevel gears 308 are provided with complementary ratchet mem,- bers 311 and 312 in spaced relation with the toothed elements 309 and 310, respectively.

The grooved clutch element 307 is engaged by a pin 314 secured near onefend of a T shaped lever 315 pivoted at 316 to the bracket 110. The arrangement is such that rotation of the lever 315 about its pivot 316 oscillates the clutch element 307 to engage with one or the other-of the bevel gears 308.

An arm 323 is pivotally secured as at 324 to the bracket 1 10. The free end of the arm 323 is bent asl at 326' and terminates as at 327 in such manner as to engage the dog 302.

The arm 323 is also providedwith'a cam face 'formed to include a pair of spaced projections 329, 330 with a depression 331 therebetween.V A roller 332 is mounted on one end of the T lever 315,A which engages the cam surface of the arm 323- and which in the normal position of the T lever registers with the depression '331. Arm 323 is normally held against roller 332 by means of spring 4 328, one end of which is secured to the arm and the other end of which is secured to the fixed bracket 110.

The third arm of the levier 315 is provided with a pinl and slot connection indicated as at 333 to a piston rod 353 as will subsequently be set forth. l v l For controlling the rotation of the shaft 107 there is provided intermediate the thrust bearings 111 and 112 of the shaft 107 a worm 335 for driving a worm wheel 336 in mesh therewith. Referring Amore particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, the worm wheel 336 is loosely mounted on a shaft 337 which is mounted for rotation in bearings in the bracket 110. A pair of collars 338 are secured to the shaft l 337, and serve to prevent longitudinal movement thereof with respect to thel bracket 110. Rigidly pinned to the shaft. 337' is a member 340 provided with a projecting dog 3424 The' proximate face ofthe worm wheel 336 is provided with a tongue element 343 for engaging the dog 342. One end of the shaft 337 is also splined and is provided with a cone clutch element 344 slidablyr mounted on the shaft 337 and rotatable therewith. The cone clutch element 344 engages a stationary clutch element 345 forming in combination therewith a water-tight bearing. The stationary clutch element 345 is recessed as at 346 and is se cured in fixed position on the hull 10. The outboard` end of the movable clutch element 344 is provided with a pointer or indicator 347and terminates in a squared end as at 348 for engagement by a socket wrench or other adjusting tool. A compression spring 349 is positioned on the shaft 337 between one of with opposite ends of the cylinder 351 are two pipes 355 and 356, the other ends of which communicate with ports 357 and 358 in a rotary valve casing 359. Rotatably mounted in this case is a rotary valve 361 (see Figs. 8 and 13). The lrotary valve cas- -ing 359 is secured to the Ainner face of the torpedo hull 10. The casing is provided with a recess as at 362 accessible from the exterior of the torpedo. The rotary valve 361 is snugly fitted within the base of the casing 359, a packing 363 being provided to form a water tight seal. The

exterior end ofthe valve stem 361 is provided with a square socket 364 for the reception of an' adjusting tool. The rotary valve 361 is held tightly in its seat by a projection 365' which is a part of cap 366, screw threaded upon the inner end of the casing 359. Thus the rotary valvey 361 may be rotated by the means of aniadjusting tool previous to the discharge of the torpedo and is held in a fixed position thereafter.

The rotary valve is provided with grooves 367,- 368. 585 and 586. The casing 359 is provided with eight ports 358, 371, 357.' 581, 582, 577, 583,- and 584.A Ports 581 and 584 are exhaust ports. Compressed air pipes 575 and 372 communicate with ports 577 and 371 respectively. Ports 583, 582. 357 and 358 communicate with pipes 588, 587, 355 and 356 respectively.

The grooves of the rotary valve are so-associated with the ports above mentioned that in the position shown in Fig. 2, pipe 372 is in` communication with pip 355, pipe 575 is in communication with pipe 588 and pipes 587 and 356 are in communication with the atmosphere through vents 581 and 584 respectively. 4

In-theopposite position -of the valve, as

shown in Fig. 13, pipes 372 and 57 5 are in communication with pipes 356 and 587 respectively, and pipes 355 and 588 are vin communication With the atmosphere.

In this system ,the contact wire 531 is of bare -copper or other metal dissimilar to a ships hull for nearly its entire length but is insulated from a point just off of the tail catch 536 which forms part of the armature 537 of an electromagnet 538. The armature 537 is held in the position shown by a 4spring 539. The Winding of thejelectromagnet 538 is connected to the distance gear by the conductors 270 and 297 with a battery 540 in the latter. l

The switch arm 533 is connected by a conductor 541 to a very sensitive D. C. relay 542 the other side of Which is connected to a copper'grid 543 which is mounted in but insulated from a compartment 544 mounted on the side of the hull of the torpedo 10. At this p oint the hull is provided with a number of openings 545 which allow free access of the sea water to the grid 543. The grid 543 may be of any suitable material but copper has been found to be the most satisfactory and may be of any desired shapebut preferably honey combed to present a large surface to the sea Water. fr j The relay 542 is -provided with an armature 546 which is held in the open position by la spring 547 which is connected to one side of a battery 548 the other side of Which is connected to the Winding of a solenoid 549 the other side of Which is connected to the point contact of the relay 542.

The solenoid 549 is provided with a core 551 which slides in a bearing 552 and has secured to it a collar 553 between which and the solenoid -is mounted a spring 554. Forming an extension of the core 551 is a rod 555 on the end of which is mounted ap-'piston 556 which slides in' a cylinder 557. Thiscylinder is provided with a flap valve which normally covers a large port 558 and is also provided with a small opening 559 which restricts the iow of air out of the cylinder.

y Pivoted to the core 551 is a paWl 561 which *is held down by a spring 562. This pawl en- `gages the teeth of a ratchet 563 which is se-` cured to the shaft 564 of a primary 4rotary valve 565. This'valve rotates in a casing 566 and is provided with a diametrical hole 567 and a circumferential groove 568.

571,A 572 and 573.J 571"communicates with a compressed air supply pipe 574, 572 and 573 with two pipes 57 5 and 666 respectively.

Pipe 666 communicates with the interior of a cylinder 667 through a port 668, the size The casing 566 is provided with three portsof which is controlled by an adjustable needle valve 669. Slidably mounted in the cylinder 667 is a piston 670 Which is provided with a keyway 671. Mounted in the side of the cylinder 667 is a key 672 which snugly iits the keyWa-y 671. The piston 670 is provided with :i threaded opening 673 in which is fitted a threaded rod 674. This rod is mounted for rotation in the head ofthe cylinder 675 which is formed into a cup-shape and is secured to the shell 10 of the torpedo. A stufing box 676 surrounds the rod 674 and prevents lthe entrance of Water into the cylinder 667. The end of the rod 674 is provided with a square head 677 which is adapted to be turned by a socket Wrench from the outside of .the torpedo before it is fired. In the base of the cylinder 667 is located a check valve 678 which operates in a chamber 679. The` stem of the check Valve 678 is slidably mounted in an adjustable bushing 680 between which and with a piston 591 connected to a piston rod 592 on the end of which is mounte a pin 593 which slides in a slot 594 in a Y shaped arm 595 which is pivoted at 596. At certain times this arm engages a pin 597 mounted on the end of the valve stem 50.

In the operation of this system the primary rotary valve 565 -is set in the position shown in Fig-2, the T arm 315 is set in a central position with the roller 332 in the notch 331, the spring 303 iswound by means of the key 306 and the arm 595 is set in a central position. These adjustments should\be made When the torpedo isput in service and long before the ships go into action.

Shortly before the torpedo is fired the distance gear isset by turning shaft 289 toa given distance as1ndicated by the pointer 292. This distance is considerably less than the estimated range of the enen y. The dog ,342 (Fig. 6) is turned through the angle J--0 and the secondaryrotary valve 361 is turned to the right or the left de ending on Whether-the enemyis moving ta t or vto the left'.xA g In this case the enemy is moving tothe left so the valve 361 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction as 'shovvnin Fig. 2.

The delay action mechanism is also set for the time of delay, as found from` the course e right calculator, by turning theroicll 674 the proper ,number of revolutions to'give the delay required.

,667 building u obtained from the torpedo director and the contact wire 531 is unreeled from a detachable reel or other suitable means not shown. The wire 531 may also be unreeled by the distance gear 273 at the same time it closes the switch 533 as more fully described in my copending application Serial No. 254,541 iiled February 2 1928, for antenna release mechanism. 'The torpedo is maintained'upon this lcourse by the action of the gyro 95. This action being' transmitted to the arm 51 which moves the slider 55. The motion of this slider is transmitted to the valve stem through the Springs 58 and 59 and the two collars 56 and 57.

After the torpedo has traversed the distance set on the distance `gear the cam 285 causes the contacts 287 and 293 to engage thus energizing the electromagnet 538 t us movingv the armature 537 to the leftallowing the switch arm 533 to move upwardly under the action of the spring 535 and engage the contact 532. The torpedo then proceeds towards the target but should it miss this and pass within a given distance' in front of it, the enemy shlp will make contact with the contact wire 531. This given distance is dependent on the speed of the enemy and the torpedo and the length of the contact wire.

When the enemy ship makes contact with contact wire 531 an electric impulse is set up between the metal of the ship, the wire 531, the grid 543 and the sea water which causes a flow of current through the sensitive relay 542. This will be suiiicient to cause the armature 546 4to move to the right thus energizing the solenoid 549. This causes the core 551 to be moved to the right carrying with it the pawl 561 which engages the teeth of the ratchet 563 to turn it through 1/6 of a revolution. This turns the primary rotary valve 565 through a 1/6 of a revolution to position shown in Fig. 14, thus lining up the hole 567 with the orts 571 and 573. vThis allows air to pass rom the supply pipe 574 to the pipe 666 which leads to ort 668 of cylinder 667. The piston 670 otP this cylinder has already been moved up by means of turnin the rod 674 before the torpedo was red, the distance depending upon the speed and course of the enemys ship as will hereinafter be explained. The fluid under pressure now gradually passes into thel cylinder a pressure in this c linder until it is su cient to open the va ve 678 against the tension of the spring 681. The time that it will take before this valve opens is dependent upon the volume of the cylinder 667 below the piston670. The 'luid under pressure then passes into the chamber 679 and thence to pipe 372 leading to port 371, from which it passes through the groove 367 to the port 357 and thence tothe pipe 355.

From the latter it passes to the right hand l end of cylinder 351 thus moving the piston 352 to the left and the arm 315 in a clockwise direction. This causes the torpedo to turn through the angle 9 as more fully de-I scribed in my co-pending application Serial No. 280,734, filed May 26, '1928 'for Tail torpedo.

- After turning through this angle (Fig. 16) it proceeds on a straight course 611, again towards the target, but should it again miss it and pass within a given 'distance in front of it the enemy ship will again makecontactwith the wire 531 or that portion that still remains, as partofrit may have been broken off at the first encounter.

This contact causes the sensitive relay 542 to be again energized, thus energizing the solenoid 549 and causing the primary rotary valve 565 to be rotated an additional M; of a revolution into the position shown in Fig. 15. This allows compressed air to pass from pipe 574, groove 568, hole 567 to pipe 575, thence through port 577, ,throughgroove 586 to pipe 588.

. From this pipe it .passes to the right hand end of cylinder 589 forcing the piston 591 to the left which moves the arm 595 to the left engaging thel pin 597 and'forcing the valve stem 50 to the left a aiust the action of the spring 59 and holdmg the valve in this position against any action ofthe gyro controlled arm 51. This allows air from the su ply pipe 41 to enter the o rt 37 vand the le t side of the cylinder 36, t us forcing the piston 35 to the right which in turn moves the rod 33 tothe right. This causes the rudders 30 to be put hard over to the right thus causing the torpedo to turn inthe arc -of a.

circle 612 (Fig. 16) and strike thetarget at 613. Y

Should the enemy be mo ving to the right a similar action is followed .except that the dog 342 is turned through 180-0 in theY opposite direction and the secondary rotary valve 361 is turned to the right into the position shown in Fig. 13. the enemy ship strikes vthe wire 531, the torpedo 'will be turned through the angle 0 to the right andin` the secondl encounter the rudder will "be put hard over tov the left raflsing the torpedo to make a circle to the The setting of tne delay action mechanism of cylinder 667 is determined by the angular relation of the course of thev torpedo to the course of the target ship. -As shown inFig. 17, if the torpedo is proceeding at a course not at right angles to the course of the ship and the ship contacts with the tail of the torpedo when the latter is in the position indicated at 621, it will be necessary for the torpedo to follow the course`620 until point 622 is reached, before turning to the angle 0.

The delay action mechanism is accordingly In this casewhen setto permit this distance to traversed before the redirecting mechanism is operated. Obviously, it may be set to effect a zero delay in case the torpedo is traveling at such an angle to the path of the ship as not to require v any delay action.

. If this interval should be twice the length of the ship the probability of a hit would be one in three. By means of the above described invention, however, the torpedo may pass considerably in front of a ship and be redirected by the influence thereof on the galvanic tail to produce a further probability of hit'. The action 'of the ship in striking the galvanic tail causes the torpedo to turn through an angle 6 which has previously been calculated, whereby the torpedo is again directed toward the ship from the opposite side. By this feature alone the probability of a hit is atleast doubled. A still further possibility is obtained, however, by the second redirecting impulse which operates should the torpedo again pass in front of the ship. This operates to again redirect the torpedo toward the ship from the side irom which it was originally fired. Thereafter the torpedo continues to travel in a circle and will cross and recross the battle line until its motive power is eX- hausted, or until it strikes an enemy ship;

It is evident that by suitably, esigning the length of the trailing wire wi h Arespect to thespacing'between ships, the speed of vthe ship and the speed of the torpedo it would be possible .to provide a system inwhich a miss would be extremely unlikely to occur were the battle line maintained onits original course. At any rate the torpedo wouldbe particularlyV valuable in causing the enemy to breakup. its battle' line for the purpose of Y avo'ding the same.

. ing part of this specification, a practical comn thefdrawings accompanying and formmercial embodiment of the invention is shown, but as such illustration is primarily for purposes 'of disclosure, it will be understood that the structure'may be modified in various respects without departure from the broadspirit and scope` of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

What is claimed is.:

1. In combination with a; moving body ,means associated therewith operable upon again redirecting said body towards said hull.

2. In combination witha torpedo adapted to strike a movingl metallic hull, trailing means operable upon contact with said hull for redirecting said torpedo towards said hull, said trailing means operable upon a second contact with said hull for again redirecting said torpedo towards said hu'll and thereafter causing said torpedo to travel in a circle until a hit is obtained or the motive power of said torpedo is exhausted.

3. In combination with a moving body, a

trailing copper wire, means for initially dilrecting said body toward a targetv ship, means operable when said wire contacts with the hull of said ship for redirecting said torpedo, and means operable in response to a second contact of said wire with said hull for again redirecting said torpedo whereby said torpedo is caused to traverse the path of said ship a plurality of times.

' 4. In combination with a torpedo, a trailing wire, means operable upon theiirst contact of said wire with a ship for turning said torpedo in one direction, and means operable upon a second contact with' the hull of said ship for turning saidtorpedo .in the opposite direction.

5. In combination lwith a torpedo, a trailing wire, means operable upon the first contact of said wire with a ship for turning said torpedo in one direction, means operable upon a second contact with the hull of said ship for turning said torpedo in the opposite direction, and means for initially setting said torpedo whereby said directions of turning coincide with the direction of travel of said ship. l

6. In combination with a torpedo, a trailing wire, means operable uponthe first contact of said wire with a ship for turning said torpedo in one direction, means operable upon a secondl contact with the hull of said ship 'for turning said torpedo in the opposite directing movement from operating more ship.

7.` In combination with a torpedo, a f' redirecting mechanism and a second redirecting mechanism, a' 4trailing wire, means operable in response to the influence of a metallic v hull on said wire for operating said first redirecting mechanism,` and .meansf/operable' when said wire again comes under the 1n-,' fluence of said hull for operating said second y redirecting mechanism.

8. In combination with a torpedo, first and second kredirecting mechanisms, a .trailing f wire, means operable by the electric impulse direction, and means for preventing said reiic producedf'whensaid wire contacts with the Y hull of a ship for operating saidv first redirecting mechanism, and means operable by an electric impulse when said wire againcon 'tacts with said hull for operatingsaid second I redirecting meclanism.y

9. In combinationwith a torpedo, first and ing wire, means yoperable when said wire first comes'under the influence of a ship for turn- -ing said torpedo in one direction, means operable when said wire again comes under the influence of a ship for turning said torpedo in the opposite direction, and means for initially setting said torpedo whereby said v'directions of turning'coincide with the direction otravel of said ship.

11. In combination with a torpedo, a trailing Wire, means operable when said wire contacts with a ship forturning said torpedo in one direction, and means operable when said Wire again contacts with said ship for turning said torpedo in the opposite direction.

' 12. In combination with a torpedo, a trailing wire, means operable when said Wire contacts with a ship for turning said torpedo in one direction, means operable when said Wire a'gain contacts with said ship for turningl said torpedo in the opposite direction, and

vmeans for' preventing said redirecting movement from. operating more than once While said wire' contacts with said ship. A

13. In combination with a movmg body,

.means for initially directing said body to- Vward a target ship, trailing means operable upon a first contact with said ship for redirectingl said torpedo, said trailing means 'being operable upon a second Contact with said ship for agam redirecting said torpedo whereby said torpedo is causedLto 'traverse the path ofsaid ship a plurality of times.A

. 14. In combination with a torpedo adapted to strike a moving metallic hull, trailing means operable upon a 'iirst contact with said hull'for redirecting said torpedo toward said hull from the opposite side said trailing means being operable vupon a secondcontact with said hull for again vredirecting said torpedo toward said hull lfrom the first side.

15. In a torpedo, a trailing antenna of bare wire of a metal dissimilar to a ships hull, said wire being adapted to contact with the ships hull when said torpedo passes in proximity to ythe bow of said ship whereby upon contact anelectric impulse is set up, and means operable in responseto said impulse fp r' redirecting said torpedo toward said s 1p. A

16. In a torpedo, a trailing antenna of bare proximity tothe 'bow thereof whereby an electric impulse is set up, and means operable in response to said impulse for redirecting said torpedo toward said ship.

17. In a torpedo, a trailing antenna of a y antenna contacts with. said hull,vand means operable in response to said impulse for redirecting said torpedo toward said ship.

18. In a torpedo, a trailing antenna of bare copper wire, a copper grid carried by said torpedo and insulated therefrom, said grid being in contact with the sea water whereby an electric impulse is produced when said copperwirel contacts with the metallic hull of a ship, and .means operable in response, to said impulse for redirecting said torpedo toward said ship.

19. In a torpedo, a trailing antenna of bare copper Wire, a copper'grid carried by said torpedo, and insulated therefrom, said grid being in contact with the sea water whereby an electric impulse is produced when said` copper wire contacts with the metallic hull of a ship, means operable in response to said lmpulse for redirecting said torpedo toward said ship, and means operable in response to the second impulse produced when said wire again, contacts with said hull for again redlrecting said torpedo toward said ship.

20. In a torpedo, a casing, a metallic member extending a substantial distance from said casing, said member being of a metal dissimilar to a ships hull and being adapted to contact with said hull when the torpedo passes 1n proximity thereto, but does not itself hit said hull, whereby upon contact an electric impulse is set up and means operable in lresponse to said impulse for redirecting said torpedo toward said ship.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set niy hand.

J OFINAI HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

copper'wire adapted-to contact with the hull I of the when said torpedo passes in los 

